ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Rural Development
Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Narendra Singh Tomar releases ‘Wastelands Atlas’ – 2019 with robust geospatial information; Atlas to effectively assist in rolling back wastelands for productive use through various land development schemes & programs
Realizing the importance of availability of reliable database on the wastelands of the country, the Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar released the Wastelands Atlas – 2019. The Department of Land Resources in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre , Department of Space has published Wastelands Atlases of India - 2000, 2005, 2010 & 2011 editions. The new wastelands mapping exercise, carried out by NRSC using the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data is brought out as the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas – 2019. India with 2.4% of total land area of the World is supporting 18% of the World’s population. The per capita availability of agriculture land in India is 0.12 ha whereas World per capita agriculture land is 0.29 ha. Unprecedented pressure on the land beyond its carrying capacity is resulting into degradation of lands in the Country. Therefore, robust geospatial information on wastelands assumes significance and effectively helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes / schemes.
This Wastelands Atlas-2019 provides district and state wise distribution of different categories of wastelands area including mapping of about 12.08 Mha hitherto unmapped area of Jammu & Kashmir. The changes in wastelands between 2008-09 and 2015-16 have been presented in the Atlas. The effort has resulted in estimating the spatial extent of wastelands for entire country to the tune of 55.76 Mha  for the year 2015-16 as compared to 56.60 Mha  in the year 2008-09. During this period 1.45 Mha of wastelands are converted into non wastelands categories. There is a net conversion of 0.84 Mha  of different wasteland categories in the country during 2008-09 to 2015-16. A reduction in wasteland area was observed in the categories of land with dense scrub, waterlogged and marshy land, sandy areas, degraded pastures / grazing land and gullied and / or ravinous land.
The wastelands have undergone positive change in the states of Rajasthan , Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Andhra Pradesh , Mizoram , Madhya Pradesh , Jammu & Kashmir  and West Bengal . Majority of wastelands have been changed into categories of ‘croplands’ , ‘forest-dense / open’ , ‘forest plantation’ , ‘plantation’  and ‘industrial area’  etc.
Ministry of Defence
Value Of Defence Production
The value of defence production has crossed the figure of Rs one lakh crore for the first time ever during financial year 2022-23. Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment by Indian Industry including MSMEs and start-ups, thereby promoting ease of doing business in defence manufacturing & technology in the country. Government promotes participation of MSMEs/start-ups for development of defence technology under various schemes like Innovations for Defence Excellence , Technology Development Fund , Make procedure under Defence Acquisition Procedure  2020. The DAP 2020 provides special provisions to encourage MSMEs and Start-ups. Moreover, Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order, 2012 has been implemented at DPSUs under which the price preference is given to MSME bidders under certain conditions. Further, DPSUs and services have uploaded more than 30,000 defence items on ‘Srijan portal for indigenisation’ and offered them to Industry including MSMEs to become partners in indigenisation process.
Further, Innovations for Defence Excellence  was launched in April, 2018 to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs/start-ups. iDEX provides grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D activities for futuristic technologies. The industries including the MSMEs and start-ups have given an enthusiastic response to iDEX for defence innovation works including design, development and manufacturing of Defence equipment. iDEX has given boost to defence industrial manufacturing ecosystem by promoting formation of Start-ups by individual innovators, and supporting sustenance to existing Start-ups/MSMEs. This has also led to the generation of employment opportunities.
Moreover, to bring MSMEs into the defence supply chain and thereby boost the self-reliance in defence sector in the country and also to contribute towards defence exports, Ministry of Defence has made a scheme of promotion of MSMEs in defence. Under this scheme, workshops/seminars are organised in collaboration with Industry Associations and other stakeholders from different parts of the country.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Prataprao Jadhav and others in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM invites ideas for his speech on August 15
PM invites ideas for his speech on August 15
(The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has invited ideas for his address to the nation on 15th August 2017. The Prime Minister has urged people to share their ideas for the speech on the specially created open forum on the Narendra Modi App.
“When I address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August, I am merely the medium. The voice is of 125 crore Indians.
Share your ideas for the speech on 15th August, on the specially created open forum on the NM App. http://nm4.in/dnldapp”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Use modern technologies in foodgrain management: Shri Goyal
FCI should open more procurement centres covering all revenue districts so that the farmers have option to sell their produce to FCI or to any other agency: Shri Goyal
Use modern technologies in foodgrain management and Quality Control to bring more transparency and minimum human interface, said Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce & Industry while reviewing the operations of Food Corporation of India UP Region in Lucknow.
He called upon all the officers to send their suggestions to make the functioning of Food Corporation of India more efficient and modern. Shri Goyal also directed FCI officers to use their expertise in the field of foodgrain management and suggest the better design of godowns in order to create higher capacities in limited area of land.
While reviewing the issues related to wheat and paddy procurement, he directed that FCI should open more procurement centres covering almost all revenue districts so the farmers have option to sell their produce to FCI or to any other agency. He appreciated the use of E-POP machine at purchase centres in UP and advised that the same system should be implemented in other states also in order to bring more transparency in the procurement system from farmers.
Keeping in view of the demand, population and vast geographic area of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister directed that more quantity of Wheat should be offered in the Open Market Sale Scheme to control the market price of Wheat.
While reviewing the storage capacities in the state Shri Goyal said that all the godowns of FCI, both owned and hired should be of highest standard. All the Godowns of poor standard should immediately be upgraded by undertaking required repairs else the same should be considered for de hiring.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Model Tenancy Act to promote rental housing, by protecting the rights and interests of both the tenants and landlords
Union Cabinet approved Model Tenancy Act  on 2nd June, 2021 and the same was circulated to all States / Union Territories  on 7th June, 2021 for adoption for future tenancies by way of either enacting a fresh legislation or amending existing rental laws suitably.
Model Tenancy Act aims to promote rental housing by balancing and protecting the rights and interests of both the tenants and landlords by regulating renting of premises in an efficient and transparent manner. It will also help in overhauling the legal framework with respect to rental markets across the country by providing speedier dispute resolution mechanism framework and is expected to give a fillip to private participation in rental housing.
All States and UTs were consulted while finalising Model Tenancy Act. Views / comments / suggestions of States and UTs on draft Act were duly analysed and suitably incorporated in the final draft.MTA is applicable in both urban and rural areas of the States and UTs.
Land and Colonization are State subjects. Tenancies in States/ Union Territories are governed by their respective rental laws. States and UTs have been advised to adopt MTA by way of eitherenacting a fresh legislation or amending their existing rental laws suitably on lines of MTA in their respective jurisdictions.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Closure of Plastic Manufacturing Units
The Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 on 12th August 2021 prohibiting identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, by 2022.
As far as, plastic carry bags are concerned, the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy five microns with effect from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.Further, over and above the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended, 34 states/UTs have issued notifications/orders to introduce regulations pertaining to complete or partial ban on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-use plastic items.
The Central Pollution Control Board in its report on “Impact of Plastic Waste Disposal on Soil and Water Quality at Lucknow Dumpsites” had found that dumping of plastic waste can deteriorate soil and underground water quality due to leaching of additives, colourants, stabilizers and fillers present in the different categories of plastic products.
This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Coal
Coal Ministry Reviews Non-operational Captive & Commercial coal blocks of Jharkhand
Captive and Commercial Blocks of Jharkhand Likely to Produce 37.3 Million Ton Coal in 2022-23
The status of 20 non-operational captive and commercial coal blocks of Jharkhand state was reviewed by Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority of the Ministry of Coal in the presence of officers of Ministry of EF&CC, PCCF, Jharkhand, Director , Jharkhand and project proponents.
The Ministry of Coal appreciated the improvement in overall status of non-operational coal blocks of Jharkhand and the assistance provided by the State mining and forest department. It was observed that about 3 to 4 coal blocks will get mine opening permission and coal production will start from four coal blocks in during this financial year. Production from captive & commercial coal blocks of Jharkhand is likely to be about 37.3 million ton in 2022-23 against 17.72 million ton in 2021-22 and thus, there will be 110.4 % increase in coal production this year over 2021-22.
Ministry of Coal assured to provide all possible support in resolving the issues faced by the project proponents.
President's Secretariat
President of India pays homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan today . He paid floral tributes in front of a portrait of Netaji at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Dy. Chairman, Tea Board Announces launch of 5th Session of Foodka on Tea & Tourism across North Bengal
Kolkata, January 27, 2020
Tea Board India along with the Foodka YouTube channel announced grand launch of Fifth Season of Foodka today in presence of Dy. Chairman, Tea Board, Shri A K Ray. It comprises five episodes on tea and tourism across North Bengal. Foodka channel is spearheaded by renowned RJ Mir and reputed food blogger Indrajit Lahiri.
Tea Board of India and Foodka brought out a series with five episodes dedicated to both the magic of Darjeeling Tea as well as tourism circuit of the region. With the journey through the tea gardens, the episodes will also highlight the food that goes hand in hand with the exquisite beverage which enthralled world inhabitants.
The videos can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCByoEPQbSxyB7PGFDmqtHwQ.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh meets Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Eli Cohen in New Delhi; Calls for increased investments by Israeli companies in India for co-production of defence equipment
Israel conveys its willingness to partner with India in advanced technologies
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met with an Israeli delegation, led by Foreign Minister Mr Eli Cohen, in New Delhi on May 09, 2023. During the meeting, the Raksha Mantri underlined Government of India’s priority towards indigenisation in accordance with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Policy’. He acknowledged the cooperation being extended by Israeli companies and encouraged them for more investments in India and for forging joint ventures with Indian partners to manufacture defence equipment in India.
The Israeli Minister affirmed continued cooperation of Israel in India’s endeavour for indigenisation and conveyed the willingness to cooperate & partner in advanced technologies. Both sides acknowledged the completion of 30 years of diplomatic relationship between the two countries and looked forward to further strengthening the bilateral ties.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 193.53 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 13.12 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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1,93,53,58,865
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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13,12,10,500
More than 193.53 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 13.12 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Prime Minister's Office
The airport in Shivamogga will boost commerce, connectivity and enhance tourism: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that the airport in Shivamogga, Karnataka will boost commerce, connectivity and enhance tourism. Shri Modi was responding to the tweet threads by Member of Parliament from Shivamogga Constituency, Shri B Y Raghavendra wherein he has informed that the dream of an airport at Shivamogga is coming true. The Shivamogga Airport will establish itself as not merely an airport, but as the gateway of Malnad region's journey to transformation.
The Prime Minister tweeted about upcoming Shivamogga airport in Karnataka;
“The airport in Shivamogga will boost commerce, connectivity and enhance tourism.”
Ministry of Finance
Secretary, Department of Financial Services, holds review meeting with heads of PSBs and other organisations to review progress of schemes under its ambit
Dr. Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services , Ministry of Finance, chaired a day-long review meeting with heads of Public Sector Banks  here today. Dr Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry; Shri Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries; Shri Rahul Kapur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and representatives from Ministry of Agriculture & farmers Welfare also took part in the review meeting. The review meeting was also attended by Chairman NABARD & CEO of NPCI.
During the meeting, the progress under various social security  schemes including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana , Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana , Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana , Atal Pension Yojana , Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Stand Up India and PMSVANidhi were reviewed. Dr. Joshi exhorted the PSBs to achieve the targets allocated to them under the various schemes for financial inclusion in a time bound manner.
During the meeting, Dr. Joshi also discussed with banks the three months long saturation campaign of PMJJBY & PMSBY schemes from 01.04.2023 to 30.06.2023. Dr Joshi emphasised that continued support, active role and participation from all banks will go a long way in ensuring that the saturation campaign reaches the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries. Banks were advised to leverage their Banking Corresponds network for outreach and enrolling potential beneficiaries. Secretary DFS also requested banks to conduct awareness campaigns about these schemes in regional / vernacular languages.
The progress of Kisan Credit Cards  scheme was also discussed in the meeting with special focus on issuance of KCC for animal husbandry and fisheries. Scaling up of the account aggregator ecosystem was also reviewed. Issues related to Debt Recovery Tribunal  and digital document execution framework were also discussed in the meeting.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
ICAR-CIFRI Observes 'National Dolphin Day'
Kolkata, October 5, 2023
Healthy aquatic environments contribute to the planet's overall well-being. Dolphin conservation would therefore help ensure the survival of the species and the humans who depend on the aquatic ecosystem for their way of life. Dolphins are the ideal ecological markers of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. On August 15, 2020, the “Project Dolphin” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include both river dolphins and marine dolphins in its conservation programme. Because of the significance of dolphins, Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav declared October 5 as the National Dolphin Day”, to be observed annually to raise awareness for dolphin conservation.
To make the day a significantly remarkable one, the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute observed ‘National Dolphin Day’ today at Sheoraphuli Ghat on the bank of the river Hooghly under the Namami Gange Programme. On this occasion, more than 100 people, including active fishermen, social activities, and students residing on the banks of the river, participated and were aware of the day.
In the conveying message, Dr. Basanta Kumar Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI and Principal Investigator of the National Mission for Clean Ganga  project informed that over 30 different species of marine mammals, including river dolphins, are found in Indian waters. Only the Ganga-Brahmaputra systems are home to the Gangetic River dolphin .
Shri Das also emphasised the significance of the Gangetic dolphin as an indicator species for the Ganga ecosystem, as its susceptibility to variations in water quality and flow provides data on the overall health of the ecosystem and the other species that inhabit it.
Dolphins in India face numerous challenges, so spreading knowledge about them is crucial. Locals have been made aware of various river conservation measures through the awareness and sensitization programme. This is the stated goal of the recently established "National Dolphin Day".
Under the guidance of Dr. Das, all the scientists and research scholars associated with NMCG Component II assisted with the programme. CIFRI also organised an awareness programme at Farakka where more than 50 fishermen participated.
Prime Minister's Office
PM to inaugurate third Annual Meeting of AIIB in Mumbai tomorrow & interact with business leaders
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mumbai tomorrow. He will inaugurate the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank , a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond.
The theme for this year’s meeting is “Mobilizing Finance for Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration.” Leaders from varied organizations and levels of government will be sharing ideas and experiences for creating a sustainable future through sound infrastructure investment.
This year will also see the launch of the inaugural Asian Infrastructure Forum, which will gather infrastructure practitioners in a practical and project-driven discourse, focused on matching innovative finance to critical infrastructure needs.
Later, the Prime Minister will meet business leaders and captains of industry, for a discussion on issues such as economic growth, infrastructure development, policy initiatives, investment, innovation and job creation.